Retail spending in the United States continued its upward trajectory in June, marking the ninth consecutive month of growth as consumers increased purchases during seasonal promotions and began shopping early for the back-to-school period. Apparel and accessories retailers were among the strongest performers, reflecting resilient consumer demand despite broader economic uncertainties.
According to the latest CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), US retail sales at clothing and accessories stores increased 0.63% from May to June on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared with June 2025, sales surged 13.65%, making apparel one of the best-performing retail categories during the month. Only digital products recorded stronger annual growth among the sectors tracked by the index.
Commenting on the latest figures, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said: “The summer shopping season got off to a strong start in June. Consumers took advantage of summer sales events, and many began their back-to-school shopping early.”
He added: “The capacity for retail spending has been supported by the sector’s focus on keeping prices accessible and by a stable labour market. Year-over-year improvements are especially notable, given the comparatively weak results seen in June 2025.”
The broader US retail sales picture also remained positive. Excluding automobile dealerships and fuel stations, total retail sales rose 0.33% from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis and increased 9.41% year over year.
In comparison, May recorded a stronger monthly gain of 0.42%, while annual growth stood at 7.19%.
Core retail sales, which exclude restaurants, motor vehicle dealers, and gas stations, also continued to strengthen. Sales advanced 0.36% between May and June and were 10.08% higher than the same month last year. The previous month had recorded a 0.39% monthly increase and 6.98% annual growth.
Annual sales gains were reported across all major retail segments. Sporting goods, electronics, and apparel stores posted the strongest combined year-over-year increase of 18.53%, highlighting sustained consumer spending across discretionary product categories.
On a month-to-month basis, nearly every retail category experienced growth. The only exceptions were electronics and appliance retailers and furniture and home furnishings stores, both of which recorded declines during June.
Performance during the first six months of 2026 also remained encouraging. Total unadjusted retail sales increased 6.81% compared with the same period a year earlier, while core retail sales rose 6.84%, underscoring steady consumer demand across much of the retail sector.
The latest results indicate that retailers have benefited from seasonal promotions, competitive pricing, and stable employment conditions, providing a solid foundation for consumer spending as the industry moves further into the second half of the year.
